Nova Bus receives follow-up order for 120 electric buses from Ottawa

Canada’s public transit agency OC Transpo has ordered another 120 electric buses of the LFSe+ model from Volvo’s subsidiary Nova Bus. This brings the total number of electric buses ordered for Ottawa to 175 vehicles.

The additional 120 electric buses are scheduled to be delivered gradually by the third quarter of 2027. The vehicles will be fully manufactured and assembled in Canada. Nova Bus has not disclosed the value of the order.

The new order builds on an earlier purchase by OC Transpo. As early as 2024, the transit agency ordered 51 units of the LFSe+. Nova Bus now states that the total number of electric buses ordered to date is 175. However, this figure does not result solely from these two reported orders. It is clear that the procurement is part of OC Transpo’s zero-emission bus program. The transit agency, which provides public transportation in the Ottawa and Gatineau regions, aims to fully transition its bus fleet to emission-free power sources by 2036.

Nova Bus will deliver by 2027

The LFSe+ is based on Nova Bus’s established LFS platform. The manufacturer emphasizes its design for demanding winter and urban driving conditions. In addition to the buses, Nova Bus assists OC Transpo with staff training, optimizing charging infrastructure, and providing technical support during operation.

Nova Bus and OC Transpo have been working together since 2017. Upon completion of the current deliveries, the manufacturer claims to have delivered over 400 buses of various power types to Ottawa in total.

The LFSe+ is also used by other Canadian transit agencies. Ten public transportation operators in Québec placed a combined order for up to 1,229 electric buses in 2023, of which 339 were firm orders. Nova Bus states that more than 500 of its electric buses are now in use across Canada.